Introduction
Just two months after the heartbreaking loss of her beloved husband Carl Dean, country music icon Dolly Parton has opened up in a rare and heartfelt interview.
Speaking with Today hosts Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin, Parton joined the morning show primarily to celebrate the 40th anniversary of her beloved theme park, Dollywood, located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. While much of the segment focused on the park’s success since it opened on May 3, 1986, the conversation gently shifted to something far more personal — how she’s been holding up since Dean’s passing.
Carl Dean, who shared nearly six decades of marriage with Parton, passed away at the age of 82 on March 3, 2025. His death marked a profound turning point in the singer’s life — one that she’s been navigating quietly, until now.
“I get very emotional when people bring it up,” Parton admitted, her voice trembling slightly as the memory surfaced. She then took a deep breath and began to reflect on the man she’d loved since she was just 18 years old.
“It’s a big adjustment, just trying to change patterns and habits,” she shared with honesty and vulnerability. “I’ll do fine, and I’m very involved in my work, and that’s been the best thing that could happen to me. But I’ll always miss him, of course, and always love him.”
Despite her grief, Dolly has continued to show up for her fans and her team. During the Dollywood anniversary celebration, she was visibly moved by the overwhelming love from those in attendance — including a touching moment that caught national attention. A video of a young boy enthusiastically reacting to seeing Parton in a parade quickly went viral, and the clip was shown to her during the interview.
Her eyes lit up as she remembered the boy. “Just getting to see the reaction and feeling all that love — I got very emotional that day after the parade,” she recalled. “It was right after I had lost Carl, and I was just so bottled up with emotion. I got in the van and just cried for the longest time.”
While grief remains a quiet companion, Dolly Parton is not slowing down. Along with honoring Dollywood’s milestone, she is diving headfirst into multiple projects scheduled for 2025 and 2026 — including new music and a musical production. Her resilience is as inspiring as her love story was enduring.